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REVIVAL OF JAPANESE HONORS SYSTEM
by Kiyoaki Murata
(This article originally appeared in "The Japan Times Weekly" issue of 5
Oct. 1963 and was submitted by Mr. David R. Northey. With the ever-increasing
interest in the collecting and study of Japanese awards and the
recent publication of Mr. James W. Peterson’s "Orders and Medals of Japan
and Associated States", it was felt that this article would prove of interest
to our readers, particularly as it is written from the Japanese
point of view.)
REINSTATEMENT OF ORDERS SIGN THAT JAPAN IS TRYING TO REGAIN IDENTITY
Sometimes this fall the Government is expected to confer decorations
of various kinds and classes upon about 1,500 living persons for their
meritorious services to the state and to community.
When this is done, it will end the 17-year period in which awarding
of state honors, with certain exceptions, has been suspended.
The system of decorations to be revived this year was initially instituted
by the Government of Meiji Japan in 1875. It was based on two
principal elements: the medieval tradition of awarding warriors for
their services in battle, and the European system the Meiji leaders wanted
to adopt.
The Japanese took interest in the European system for the first time
in 1867 when a representative of the shegunate, attending an exposition
in Paris, realized the importance of orders and decorations in European
society. He recommended to the shogunate that such a system be established
in Japan.
In 1871 the Emperor Meiji directed that the Government study the
matter. After four years of subsequent deliberations, the system was
inaugurated with the creation of the Order of the Rising Sun in eight
classes.
Orders Established
In 1877 was created the Order of the Chrysanthemum in one class,
which was higher in rank than the first class of the Order of the Rising
Sun. Other orders established since then include: the Order of the
Crown (1888) in eight classes for women; the Order of the Sacred Treasure
(1888) in eight classes; originally for men only and later for women too;
the Order of the Gold Kite (1890) in seven classes for military men.
The Order of Cultural Merit in one class was created in 1937.
These decorations, except the Order of Cultural Merit, were awarded
primarily to Government officials and soldiers, and only about 30 per
cent of them were bestowed upon private individuals. This fact is in
conformity with the function of decorations - promoting state interests
and stimulating individual contributions to the state.
Bemedaled men and women of pre-1945 Japan enjoyed priority over
others in receiving invitations to the receptions held within the Palace
or to the parties for viewing cherry blossoms and chrysanthemum flowers
at the Shinjuku Imperial Garden. A medal awarded by the Emperor was the
pass to Japan’s "establishment".
Lost Raison d’Etre
Yet, this system of decorations lost much of its raison d’etre after
Japan’s defeat in World War II, and the consequent collapse of the old
order and values. There were no more soldiers and peers. And the civil
service system was drastically reformed - at least in theory; a civil
servant was no longer in his majesty’s service but was a servant of the
public.
The basis for decorations, therefore, vanished and the Government in
May 1946 made a Cabinet decision to suspend the decorations system in
principle. But the Order of Cultural Merit was not; nor was the awarding
of orders upon aliens, members of the Imperial Household and of Japanese
citizens who were either dead or dying discontinued.
The suspension, however, was not to he permanent. The Government
has since then attempted to revive the decorations system in modified
form. The Katayama Cabinet in 1948 already began studying a new honors
system. The Ashida Cabinet submitted an honors system bill but it died
stillborn in the House of Councillors.
Similar attempts were made by the Yoshida, Hatoyama and Kishi Cabinets
throughout the 1950s. without success, largely because of opposition
by Socialists.
Realizing the futility of any attempt at restoring the decorations
system through legislation, the present Government headed by Prime Minister
Hayato Ikeda circumvented the Diet by making a Cabinet decision.
The rationale is that a Cabinet decision, rather than a law, is sufficient
to undo what another Cabinet decision did in 1946.
According to the July 1963 decision, decorations of first class or
up are to be conferred by the Emperor himself within the Palace. Second
class decorations are by the Prime Minister, and third class and below by
Cabinet ministers.
The Order of Cultural Merit is to be conferred in the Palace by the
Prime Minister in the presence of the Emperor, as before.
Socialists 0bject
The Socialists promptly objected to this decision, charging that it
was "illegal and unjust" and demanded that Government revoke it. Chairman
Jotaro Kawakami of the Socialist Party even suggested that the action
was a violation of the Constitution.
On the other hand, the Government position is as follows: although
the provisions in the new Constitution prescribing the rights and duties
of the citizens invalidated many of the prewar imperial ordinances and
decrees that dealt with the rights and duties of the subjects, those concerning
orders and decorations were not affected because "honors are not
rights". Hence the Cabinet decision for setting down rules about orders
and decorations is not unconstitutional.
What appears to be in support of this view is an article in the Constitution
itself. Art. 14 reads in part: "No privilege shall accompany
any award or honor, decoration or any such distinction, nor shall any
such award be valid beyond the lifetime of the individual who now holds
or hereafter may receive it."
The last portion of the article clearly anticipates that decorations
may be given even under the new Constitution.
The Cabinet decision has solved one problem for many Japanese leaders
- in Government, legislature or business. The problem was that the
bare-chested Japanese were embarrassed in the presence of bemedaled and
beribboned foreigners at public functions.
Criteria Needed
But at the same time, the decision has created a practical and immediate
problem - that of determining a set of criteria for awarding decorations
which can stand criticism and satisfy everyone while, of course,
serving the purpose for which the honors system is supposed to exist.
Officials in the Bureau of Decorations in the Prime Minister’s Offlee
are believed to be now engaged in the unenviable task of deciding
who receives what order in what class.
Most likely to come in for criticism would be a blanket rule by
which, for instance, a Dietman who has served in that capacity for a certain
number of years is to be given a certain order of a certain class
instead specifying a merit.
An affirmative view of the current development, on the other hand~
would be that the reinstitution of the decorations system is another sign
of Japan attempting to regain her own identity. Toward such an end, the
decoration of living citizens would be a constructive step as long as it
is based on a set of criteria, on which the majority of the population
can agree. If such a system can be achieved, then it would make a significant
contribution to the restoration of normal values in Japan.
by Kiyoaki Murata
(This article originally appeared in "The Japan Times Weekly" issue of 5
Oct. 1963 and was submitted by Mr. David R. Northey. With the ever-increasing
interest in the collecting and study of Japanese awards and the
recent publication of Mr. James W. Peterson’s "Orders and Medals of Japan
and Associated States", it was felt that this article would prove of interest
to our readers, particularly as it is written from the Japanese
point of view.)
REINSTATEMENT OF ORDERS SIGN THAT JAPAN IS TRYING TO REGAIN IDENTITY
Sometimes this fall the Government is expected to confer decorations
of various kinds and classes upon about 1,500 living persons for their
meritorious services to the state and to community.
When this is done, it will end the 17-year period in which awarding
of state honors, with certain exceptions, has been suspended.
The system of decorations to be revived this year was initially instituted
by the Government of Meiji Japan in 1875. It was based on two
principal elements: the medieval tradition of awarding warriors for
their services in battle, and the European system the Meiji leaders wanted
to adopt.
The Japanese took interest in the European system for the first time
in 1867 when a representative of the shegunate, attending an exposition
in Paris, realized the importance of orders and decorations in European
society. He recommended to the shogunate that such a system be established
in Japan.
In 1871 the Emperor Meiji directed that the Government study the
matter. After four years of subsequent deliberations, the system was
inaugurated with the creation of the Order of the Rising Sun in eight
classes.
Orders Established
In 1877 was created the Order of the Chrysanthemum in one class,
which was higher in rank than the first class of the Order of the Rising
Sun. Other orders established since then include: the Order of the
Crown (1888) in eight classes for women; the Order of the Sacred Treasure
(1888) in eight classes; originally for men only and later for women too;
the Order of the Gold Kite (1890) in seven classes for military men.
The Order of Cultural Merit in one class was created in 1937.
These decorations, except the Order of Cultural Merit, were awarded
primarily to Government officials and soldiers, and only about 30 per
cent of them were bestowed upon private individuals. This fact is in
conformity with the function of decorations - promoting state interests
and stimulating individual contributions to the state.
Bemedaled men and women of pre-1945 Japan enjoyed priority over
others in receiving invitations to the receptions held within the Palace
or to the parties for viewing cherry blossoms and chrysanthemum flowers
at the Shinjuku Imperial Garden. A medal awarded by the Emperor was the
pass to Japan’s "establishment".
Lost Raison d’Etre
Yet, this system of decorations lost much of its raison d’etre after
Japan’s defeat in World War II, and the consequent collapse of the old
order and values. There were no more soldiers and peers. And the civil
service system was drastically reformed - at least in theory; a civil
servant was no longer in his majesty’s service but was a servant of the
public.
The basis for decorations, therefore, vanished and the Government in
May 1946 made a Cabinet decision to suspend the decorations system in
principle. But the Order of Cultural Merit was not; nor was the awarding
of orders upon aliens, members of the Imperial Household and of Japanese
citizens who were either dead or dying discontinued.
The suspension, however, was not to he permanent. The Government
has since then attempted to revive the decorations system in modified
form. The Katayama Cabinet in 1948 already began studying a new honors
system. The Ashida Cabinet submitted an honors system bill but it died
stillborn in the House of Councillors.
Similar attempts were made by the Yoshida, Hatoyama and Kishi Cabinets
throughout the 1950s. without success, largely because of opposition
by Socialists.
Realizing the futility of any attempt at restoring the decorations
system through legislation, the present Government headed by Prime Minister
Hayato Ikeda circumvented the Diet by making a Cabinet decision.
The rationale is that a Cabinet decision, rather than a law, is sufficient
to undo what another Cabinet decision did in 1946.
According to the July 1963 decision, decorations of first class or
up are to be conferred by the Emperor himself within the Palace. Second
class decorations are by the Prime Minister, and third class and below by
Cabinet ministers.
The Order of Cultural Merit is to be conferred in the Palace by the
Prime Minister in the presence of the Emperor, as before.
Socialists 0bject
The Socialists promptly objected to this decision, charging that it
was "illegal and unjust" and demanded that Government revoke it. Chairman
Jotaro Kawakami of the Socialist Party even suggested that the action
was a violation of the Constitution.
On the other hand, the Government position is as follows: although
the provisions in the new Constitution prescribing the rights and duties
of the citizens invalidated many of the prewar imperial ordinances and
decrees that dealt with the rights and duties of the subjects, those concerning
orders and decorations were not affected because "honors are not
rights". Hence the Cabinet decision for setting down rules about orders
and decorations is not unconstitutional.
What appears to be in support of this view is an article in the Constitution
itself. Art. 14 reads in part: "No privilege shall accompany
any award or honor, decoration or any such distinction, nor shall any
such award be valid beyond the lifetime of the individual who now holds
or hereafter may receive it."
The last portion of the article clearly anticipates that decorations
may be given even under the new Constitution.
The Cabinet decision has solved one problem for many Japanese leaders
- in Government, legislature or business. The problem was that the
bare-chested Japanese were embarrassed in the presence of bemedaled and
beribboned foreigners at public functions.
Criteria Needed
But at the same time, the decision has created a practical and immediate
problem - that of determining a set of criteria for awarding decorations
which can stand criticism and satisfy everyone while, of course,
serving the purpose for which the honors system is supposed to exist.
Officials in the Bureau of Decorations in the Prime Minister’s Offlee
are believed to be now engaged in the unenviable task of deciding
who receives what order in what class.
Most likely to come in for criticism would be a blanket rule by
which, for instance, a Dietman who has served in that capacity for a certain
number of years is to be given a certain order of a certain class
instead specifying a merit.
An affirmative view of the current development, on the other hand~
would be that the reinstitution of the decorations system is another sign
of Japan attempting to regain her own identity. Toward such an end, the
decoration of living citizens would be a constructive step as long as it
is based on a set of criteria, on which the majority of the population
can agree. If such a system can be achieved, then it would make a significant
contribution to the restoration of normal values in Japan.
Sergeevich64
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